- Keyboard CAC Card Readers are simply keyboards with a built-in card reader. If you will primarily use your CAC card on a machine with an external keyboard, this might be the right choice for you. Now that we’ve covered the types of CAC card reader available, let’s take a look at the best options out there.
- This website was created because of the lack of information available to show how to utilize Common Access Card (CAC)s on Personal Computers. MilitaryCAC has been online since 9 November 2007 and has over 121 individual pages of information and support.
Installation Steps |
| Step 1: Obtain a CAC Reader |
| Step 2:CAC Reader driver / Video |
| Step 3:DoD Certificates |
| Step 4:ActivClient |
| Step 4a:Update ActivClient |
| Step 5:IE adjustments/Video |
| Log into a CAC enabled website now |
| Page Quick Links: |
| Firmware Update for SCR-331 |
| Verify SmartCard Service started |
| Start Smart Card Service PDFs |
| Updating a CAC Driver |
The Saicoo CAC Card reader V2 is one of the most reliable of the CAC card readers. Many military personnel already use this card reader since many commands carry them and use them for portable computers. That being said, this is not a permanent placement type CAC reader as compared to others in the industry.
Plug in your CAC reader NOW
NOTE: Please check and make sure your CAC reader installed BEFORE you attempt to follow the driver installation instructions below. Most of the time, the New hardware wizard will install the CAC reader automatically, negating the need for you to install the driver manually.
To Verify whether your driver did or did not install, follow these instructions:
Plug your CAC reader into your computer before proceeding
Windows 10: Right click the Windows logo (lower left corner of your screen). Click System, select Device Manager link (upper left corner of the screen), scroll down to Smart card readers, select the little triangle next to it to open it up. If your smart card reader is listed, go to the next step of installing the DoD certificates.
Windows 8.1: Right click Computer, select Properties, Device Manager link (upper left corner of the screen), scroll down to Smart card readers, select the little triangle next to it to open it up. If your smart card reader is listed, go to the next step of installing the DoD certificates. NOTE: If you don't see it, you can also click Start, In the Start Search line type in: devmgmt.msc. (For Windows 8.1 users, you'll right click Start).
If it did not install correctly... Try this first: Go to Device Manager (Instructions are above), scroll down to Smart Card readers, right click the CAC reader that shows up below Smart Card Readers. It can also show up under unknown devices. Select Uninstall. It will give you a message. Once it is uninstalled, unplug the reader from your computer. Wait a few moments, then plug it back in. It 'should' start to install itself. If that doesn't work, keep reading for other ideas below.
IF you do not see Smart card readers when checking, THEN follow along with the steps below.
To install a driver onto your computer for a CAC reader, you need to first download the correct driver for the hardware you purchased, I have drivers for the most common USB Readers, Keyboard, laptop, & desktop card readers
PROCEED TO STEP 3 ONCE YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR VERIFICATION OR INSTALLATION
Unzipping - the driver
Windows 10 or 8.1 - Save the zip file to a location of your choosing. Once you have the zip file downloaded, open the zip file (Windows built in zipping program). Copy the folder inside to a new folder. It will unzip the contents, (this is the folder you will need when you are doing the steps below). You can also use the Extract All Files button (on the left under Folder Tasks, under File, Extract All). It will then ask where you want to save the file. I recommend placing a backslash ( ) at the end of the location on the screen.
WinZip- Use the Extract button. It will ask you where you want to save the extracted files to, I recommend your desktop. Click the desktop icon on the left. Push the little yellow folder in the upper right corner of this active window. It will prompt you for a name for the folder (type in CAC Driver). Hit OK, then select Extract (lower right corner of this window). You should now see your new folder on your desktop to open up. Keep this for a later step.
Updating the Driver - Example is for an SCR-331
Windows 10 & 8.1 - Right Click Computer, Select Properties
Click the Device Manager link (on the left side of your screen)
Select the triangle next to Smart Card Readers
Right click the SCRx31 USB Reader, select Update Driver software
Browse my computer... Select Browse, then desktop (or wherever you made the folder)
NOTE: One person had to select 'Search automatically for updated driver software' (This is very rare)
Select the folder (if using the firmware update driver below, stop at the driver folder, do not 'dig' down to AND or Intel folders) and then OK. Next
Your driver will be installed.
FIRMWARE UPDATE for SCR-331 Reader
(Requires a physical Windows computer, Mac using Bootcamp, or TENS / LPS (see next sentence below). It will NOT work in virtual Windows (examples: VMware, Parallels, or Virtual box)).
Verify your firmware version before going through this process...
1. Go to Device Manager, type: device manager in the search box
2. Select the arrow next to Smart card readers
3. Right click on SCR33x USB Smart Card reader
4. Select Properties
5. Select Details (tab)
6. Select Hardware Ids
7. The number after &REV_ is your current firmware, if it is0525there is no need to update the firmware.
Intel based Macs can update the firmware using TENS / LPS (instructions on top of PDF page 37 (document page 34)) Video instructions
The firmware update 'should' fix the following problems:
A. Card reader is not recognized
B. Shows up as 'STCII Smart Card Reader'
C. Shows up as 'USB Smart Card Reader' (not necessarily a problem)
D. Does not read your 'Gemalto TOP DL GX4 144', 'Oberthur ID One 128 v5.5 Dual' CAC.
E. Does not read your CAC when using your Mac
NOTE: We are hearing Mac users having problems with the SCR-331 reader. A recommendation is to get a Mac compatible reader.
Installation Instructions:
| 1. Download update file |
| 2. Unzip the downloaded file (by Right-clicking and selecting Extract All) |
| 3. Update the driver present in the 'driver' folder (by following guidance above) |
| 4. Once the driver is updated, Run FWUPDATE.EXE (lightning bolt) in the 'app' folder to update the firmware. Select the default choices. |
| 5. Close all programs, restart your computer |
NOTE: If you computer fails to recognize the CAC reader driver, you may need to try a different computer to do the update.
Now your SCR-331 reader can be used with Windows 10 & 8.1, or Mac.
FIRMWARE UPDATE for SCR-3310 reader
(V1 ONLY (doesn't have V2 after SCR-3310 on the label))
(Requires a physical Windows computer, Mac using Bootcamp, or TENS / LPS (see next sentence below). It will NOT work in virtual Windows (examples: VMware, Parallels, or Virtual box)).Intel based Macs can update the firmware using TENS / LPS (instructions on PDF page 37 (document page 34)) Video instructions
NOTE: DO NOT use this update on a V2 reader. There is no firmware update for a V2 reader because it is already updated.
Click on FWUpdate.exe, this will update your firmware to version 5.26
CHECK SERVICES to make sure Smart Card is running
(This Video shows a very basic version on how to start the service (start at 44 seconds))
If your CAC reader is still not seen by ActivClient, make sure that the Smart Card service is running.
Here's how: Go to: Start, Search programs and files (in Windows 10 & 8.1), type: Services.msc Scroll down to Smart card, double click it and set it to automatic and click Start
If you are unable to start the service; It doesn't show up; ActivClient still says no reader attached; or it acknowledges you have a CAC in the reader (but you can't access it) follow these registry edits below.
Windows 10 & 8.1
Automated method (double click the .reg file inside the .zip folder)
Manual method for Windows 10 & 8.1, (mirror your registry settings to the PDF links below).
Anytime you make changes to the Registry it is a recommended you back it up first
If ActivClient still does not see the CAC reader, try these ideas (if they don't work, your only other option is reloading Windows onto your computer).
Utilizing your CAC on Windows 10 'can' be as easy as...
Installing the DoD Root certificates and making sure the Internet Options are set correctly.
However, computers don't always cooperate with us. So....
Here are my findings and solutions:
Information: Edge is the default web browser in Windows 10. Internet Explorer is on the computer and provides backwards compatibility for web pages that do not work with Edge.
My recommendation is to type: Internet Explorer into the Search the web and Windows/ I'm Cortana / Ask me anything (box) in the lower left corner of your screen. Once Internet Explorer appears, right click Internet Explorer and select Pin to taskbar.
Finding 1:You upgraded from Windows 8.1 and were using your CAC with little to no problems, and now you can't access CAC enabled sites. Keep reading for ideas to try:
Solution1 (built-In Smart Card Ability): Uninstall ActivClient 6.2.0.x or 7.0.1.x by 'Right Clicking' the Windows logo '4 squares' [in the lower left corner of your desktop], select Programs and Features (now called Apps and Features), find ActivClient in your list of programs and select Uninstall, restart your computer and try the sites again. It may work, if it doesn't, try next Solution. Dual persona (PIV) users might be able to access their email using the built in Smart Card Ability, your results may vary, if it doesn't read your PIV, you will need to follow Finding 1, Solutions 2 or 3 below.
Finding 1, Solution2 (ActivID): ActivID ActivClient 7.1.0.153 works great on Windows 10 computers and is available for Army users from links on the Army page. All other people will have to get it from you respective branch or purchase it to try it on your computer.
Finding 2. I can't access encrypted emails when using theEdge web browser
Solution 2: The Edge web browser does not support S/MIME. See my recommendation above to see how to use Internet Explorer to read and send your encrypted emails when using OWA / webmail.
Information (from Microsoft): To understand the problem with OWA, Edge, and S/MIME you need to know the OWA S/MIME is an Active-X control. By design Edge does not support Active-X (or Browser Helper Objects); this is good from a security perspective, but bad if you want to use OWA with Edge. Windows 10/Edge is a work in progress, Microsoft is planning to use other technologies to replace Active-X sometime in the future. In the meantime use Internet Explorer 11.
Finding 3.I can't sign PDFs (Portable Document Format) like I did in Windows 8.1
Solution 3:To digitally sign PDFs, you need to use Internet Explorer, NOT the Edge web browser, and have Adobe Reader set as the default PDF viewer. NO other PDF readers will allow digitally signing of forms. This should happen automatically when installing Adobe Reader. However, if it doesn't, here is how to change the default viewer:
Type: 'default' into the Search the web and Windows/ I'm Cortana / Ask me anything (box) near the Windows logo at the bottom left of your screen.
Click: Default Programs at the top of the list.
Dod Cac Card Reader Software Download
Click: Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
Scroll down to .pdf, if it shows Adobe Acrobat Reader, it is set correctly, if it shows some other program, select .pdf and click the Change program.. (button) in the upper right corner of the screen.
'Adobe Acrobat Reader' should be in the list of choices, select it and then OK
Cac Card Reader Software For Mac
Finding 4.How do I get to Internet Options in Edge? I can't find it.
Download Software For Cac Card Reader
Solution 4: Follow slide 5 of https://milcac.us/tweaks
Finding 5.Cannot see / select the Authentication / PIV certificate in Windows 10
Solution 5: Windows 10 users will see the certificate selection differently than older versions of Windows. Click More choices to see additional certificates. Select the correct certificate and then click OK.